Shelley Duvall's Hollywood Grudge
Shelley Duvall tragically passed away two years ago today (July 11). However, she continued to hold a bitter grudge against Hollywood film studios right up until her final moments. The horror film legend was best known for roles in The Shining and Frankenweenie, becoming a household name in the 1980s. She quickly disappeared from screens for over two decades before making a shock return to public life in 2024.
Return and Death
Just weeks after stepping back into the public eye, she passed away aged 75 due to complications from diabetes. She had begun opening up about her decision to step away from Hollywood for 22 years.
Speaking Out
Speaking candidly to The New York Times in April 2024, she admitted Hollywood had 'hurt' her and pushed her to leave the industry behind. She confessed: 'I was a star, I had leading roles. People think it's just ageing, but it's not. It's violence.' She suggested that individuals would seem friendly but then abruptly 'turn on her on a dime', adding: 'You would never believe it unless it happens to you. That's why you get hurt, because you can't really believe it's true.'
Life After Hollywood
Duvall, a Cannes Film Festival winner, also revealed she often slept in her car, keeping mementos from her acting career in the vehicle's glove box. Dan Gilroy, Shelley's partner of 30 years, shared insights into her career. He shared concerns about Shelley sleeping in a vehicle and revealed that her home was destroyed in a brutal earthquake that struck in 1994. After this, she relocated to Texas in search of a fresh start. However, according to Gilroy, she 'started becoming afraid of things'. Dan recounted how Shelley began to 'think she was being attacked' and reached out to the FBI for assistance, but shortly after, her mental health 'went south'.
Final Film and Tributes
Her final film project, The Forest Hills, was released on October 4, 2024 — three months after Shelley's death. She starred alongside Edward Furlong, Chiko Mendez and Dee Wallace in the horror flick, which centres on a man plagued by visions following a head injury incurred during a camping trip. The film was first released at a small run across selected cinemas in 2023, but was shelved until late 2024 in the wake of Shelley's passing.
After her death, tributes poured in for Shelley, regarded as one of the best actresses of her generation in Hollywood. The official account of Stanley Kubrick, who directed The Shining, posted a touching tribute: 'Despite being dogged with exaggerations of her treatment on set, Shelley was always vocal about her experience filming The Shining saying she “wouldn’t trade it for anything” because “working with loveable Stanley was a fascinating learning experience.” Our thoughts are with Shelley’s friends and family.'
